Public-Private Partnerships Brings the Future to Us Sooner: Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE 100 mpge Challenge & EcoCAR: The NeXt Challenge
One doesn’t normally associate the Specialty Equipment Manufacturers Association (SEMA) Show with “green” unless you are referencing a metallic green custom paint job or putting scissor doors on a Toyota Prius. However, for the 2nd year, SEMA included a “Making Green Cool Zone” which featured environmentally-friendly vehicles. In the back of the upper South Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center, the green zone touted everything from a 1987 Ford Mustang by HP2g that delivered 110 mpg to the Nissan Altima Hot Rod Hybrid, built by Universal Technical Institute students and Braille Battery Racing that didn’t sacrifice fuel economy for performance.
Tricked out Prius
SEMA signage
Altima Hot Rod Hybrid
While AFVConnection usually focuses on commercially available vehicles, we found the competition vehicles of the Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE 100 mpge challenge in SEMA’s “Making Green Cool Zone” exciting. According to the contest’s website, “the goal of the Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE is to inspire a new generation of viable, safe and super fuel-efficient vehicles. Ten million dollars in prizes will be awarded to the teams that win a rigorous, long distance stage competition for clean, production-capable and super fuel efficient vehicles that exceed 100 MPG equivalent fuel economy.” To date 43 teams from around the world have qualified by passing the second judging stage, which includes a thorough review of their business plan and initial technical specifications. The X PRIZE Foundation was recently awarded up to $5.5 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to fund education efforts promoting public awareness of the science and engineering behind energy efficient vehicle designs. Because of this award, the Department of Energy (DOE) has become a Title Sponsor of the competition, creating a unique public-private partnership.
A unique public-private partnership indeed, but it isn’t the DOE’s first. The DOE and General Motors (GM) have also partnered to establish EcoCAR: The NeXt Challenge, a three-year collegiate student engineering competition that focuses on vehicle integration of advanced propulsion technologies. The contest, which includes 17 universities from across the U.S., uses GM donated vehicles. All 17 teams successfully completed year one of the competition in which they received $10,000 in seed money to research and develop their designs. Their designs include Extended Range Electric Vehicles (EREV), Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEV), Full Function Electric Vehicles (FFEV) and Fuel Cell Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (FC PHEV). In years two and three, the teams will build the vehicle and continue to refine, test, and improve vehicle operation in many of the same ways that GM tests their prototypes. Also, as part of the competition, each team is responsible for outreach activities such as education, marketing and media relation efforts. To help facilitate these efforts, EcoCar has further partnered with the DOE’s Clean Cities and its coordinators to leverage their expertise and knowledge. “Through the team's efforts to build awareness of advanced vehicle technologies, EcoCAR and Clean Cities essentially share a common mission - to reduce petroleum consumption in the transportation sector,” says Dennis Smith, the DOE’s National Clean Cities Director and Vehicle Technologies Deployment Manager.
While none of these competition vehicles are coming to a show room floor anytime soon, it is important to recognize these contests as they inspire new discoveries in advanced technology.
AFVi Spotlights: Virginia Clean Cities & Paving the Way with Propane
Chelsea Jenkins, Executive Director of Virginia Clean Cities, discusses her activities as a Clean Cities Coordinator, highlighting their project, Paving the Way with Propane: The AutoGas Corridor Development Program. Paving the Way with Propane was awarded over $8 million though the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Chelsea was recently named 2009 Clean Cities Coordinator of the year, along with fellow recipient Mindy Mize, Program Manager with the North Central Texas Council of Governments. Congratulations Chelsea and Mindy.
AFVi Asks About: The Future of Electric Vehicles...Exciting Times But Questions Remain
AFVi continues to enthusiastically track the buzz surrounding the introduction of electric vehicles to the market. We had the opportunity to ask industry experts, Dr. Reid Heffner, PhD with Booz Allen Hamilton and Mike Marshall with J.D. Power & Associates their impressions of the future of electric vehicles. Both conclude that while it is an exciting time for the electrification of transportation, challenges remain.
Fleet Manager Corner: Tools Now Available to Calculate Cost of Idling Reduction Equipment From National Idling Reduction Network News published by Argonne National Laboratory for DOE's Clean Cities Program
Among the tools available to workplace and truck fleet managers, owner-operators, and locomotive engineers are calculators to help determine the cost and benefits of installing and paying for idling reduction equipment. Included also is a site from Canada that quantifies the costs of workplace idling. Here are a few sites that might be of benefit to you.
Click the agency/company name below to be linked directly to their tool:
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AF&V 2010: One Show. Maximum Value.
Offers for Attendees and Exhibitors Ending Soon!
AF&V 2010 is shaping up to be another sell-out, must-attend conference. Whether you are an attendee or an exhibitor, money-saving offers are available now, but they will end soon. Register by December 31 and save money on hotel reservations. The Rio All-Suite Hotel is offering a reservation fee of $85, plus tax, for Sunday and $99/night, plus tax, for the other Conference nights - a savings of at least $60/night over the contracted room rate. Exhibitors who purchase their space before December 31 will SAVE $500 ON EACH 10’ X 10’ BOOTH PURCHASED. Don't wait and miss out on these great savings for AF&V 2010. For more information, go to www.afv2010.com.
Upcoming Natural Gas Training
AFVi's own Leo Thomason is our resident natural gas expert. With over 20-years of experience, Leo has equipped more than 14,000 employees with the skills they need to safely implement, operate and maintain a NGV fleet. Two courses are currently open for registration. Including:
NGV Driver and Mechanic Safety Training
February 9, 2010 Downey, California
CNG Fuel System Inspector Training Course
February 10-11, 2010 Downey, California
Click here for course descriptions and registration information.
Timely and resourceful alternative fuel related products.
OVER 1,500 COPIES SOLD!
Natural Gas Vehicles: The Decision Starts Here
From light- to medium- to heavy-duty options, natural gas vehicles are becoming an increasingly popular addition to fleets. This publication is designed to help fleet managers learn more about the use of natural gas as a transportation fuel and natural gas vehicles (NGVs). It provides an overview of natural gas as an energy source and a review of NGV and fueling technologies.
AFVi's own Leo Thomason is our resident natural gas expert. With over 20-years of experience, Leo has equipped more than 14,000 employees with the skills they need to safely implement, operate and maintain a NGV fleet. Two courses are currently open for registration. Including: 
Natural Gas Vehicles: The Decision Starts Here 
